Nick Miglio, “Miggs” as Utica College men’s hockey coach Gary Heenan calls him, and Gregg Burmaster are making UC Men’s Hockey proud as they both were given a chance to skate with the best of the best in the American Hockey League (AHL). 

Miglio was invited to training camp with the San Antonio Rampage and Burmaster did not have to go far from home for his opportunity as the Utica Comets gave him a chance to prove his skills on the same ice he won a UCHC championship title on just two years ago. 

Heenan expressed his respect for both of these two players and believes the duo is helping the program even though they are not dressing in a Pioneer jersey anymore. 

“Both are super character guys,” Heenan said. “We are extremely proud of both of them and it certainly shines well on our program.

Miglio is a graduate of the 2016 class. During his time here as a Pioneer, he played in 76 games; registering 15 goals, 17 assists for 32 points in his four-year career. Miglio was fortunate enough to have the chance to play in the Frozen Dome game in Syracuse, which ended in a 4-4 tie against Oswego State. 

Heenan spoke about his former forward and how he was able to watch him improve his skills through the years. 

“Miggs was a kid from Texas, played hard, elite skater that developed over his four years and grinded out pro opportunities over the last several years at lower levels to earn the tryout at the AHL level,” Heenan said. 

Burmaster, a 2019 graduate, is native of Clinton. Clinton is a town that thrives on hockey and where the Clinton Comets originated from. 

His college career started at Colorado College, a Division 1 hockey program. He transferred to Utica in 2017 and made an immediate impact on the Pioneer program as he earned the position of assistant captain. 

During that first season, Burmaster was apart of a special team that ended the year winning the UCHC championship in Utica at the Adirondack Bank Center. 

In his two-year career in Utica, Burmaster played in 56 games, scoring 30 goals and saucing up 42 assists for 72 points. He was a fan favorite with his leadership on and off the ice. 

Heenan was not shocked when he heard the news that Burmaster got a shot with the Utica Comets.

“Gregg was a high skill, Division 1 transfer that set records here in scoring, so quite believable that he would get a shot at the AHL level,” Heenan said.